McGuire Shines in Opening Night Defeat

Dunedin - It certainly wasn't the opening night performance that Manager Clayton McCullough or any of the Dunedin Blue Jays were looking for, but even in an ugly 10-1 loss there was definitely a silver lining.

Entering the game in the top of the 5th inning, trailing 7-0, rookie Deck McGuire showed the electrifying stuff that led to his being taken with the 11th overall pick in the 2010 draft. The 6'6'' right-hander scattered 3 hits over 4 innings of work and kept the Thresher's bats quiet through the middle innings. Mixing up his hard fastball and sharp breaking ball, McGuire struck out 5 in what was a very impressive professional debut.

Unfortunately for the D-Jays, the damage had already been done. Morrow allowed five runs (four earned) in 2 and 1/3, and fellow rehabbing Blue Jay Frank Francisco allowed two runs in the fourth, putting the D-Jays in a 7-0 hole that was just too deep to get out of.

Jarred Cosart was dominant on the mound for Clearwater, as Dunedin was held hitless until the bottom of the fifth when Justin Jackson delivered the first base hit of the season with two outs. Cosart worked 6 innings total, allowing just two hits.

The Blue Jays only run came in the 8th inning, courtesy of a one out RBI double off the bat of Sean Ochinko. The line drive to the gap in right-center field plated Ivan Contreras who had singled in the previous at-bat.

The two teams will get right back at it tomorrow night in Clearwater. Chad Jenkins will take the hill for the Blue Jays, and Jonathan Pettibone will make the start for Threshers.

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